If your home is older or something has happened that affects the integrity of your floors, you may have already started your search for reputable flooring contractors in Seattle. While there are many tutorials and videos that can help you to repair your own floors, this is not typically recommended.
Mistakes made during the repair process can lead to hazardous conditions and more money spent on future repairs. Hiring a professional will give you peace of mind in knowing that your floors will be safe, beautiful, and effective.
Understanding the signs of a floor in need of repair is the first step. After you have identified a potential need, you will be tasked with making the decision of connecting with flooring repair contractors in Seattle or going the DIY route.
At Home Care Contractors, we are qualified flooring repair contractors ready to handle all of your flooring needs. Contact us to request your free quote today.
What is a Subfloor?
The floor of your home is more complex than it looks. Wooden and laminate floors require a subfloor. The subfloor is a solid material underneath the covering of your floor. It is typically made of plywood, oriented strand board panels (OSB), or concrete (on ground floors and basements).
It is attached to the floor joists and is a base for the flooring material that you see and walk on such as laminate, hardwood, etc. In many cases, when you recognize signs that your flooring needs to be fixed, it is also a sign that your subflooring needs to be repaired as well.
How to Tell Your Floor Needs to be Repaired
There are many signs that reveal the need for floor repair. If signs that your floor needs to be repaired go unnoticed or are not acted on, it can lead to more damage, which may force you to replace your floor instead of repairing it. Listed below, are a few signs that your floor is in need of repair, or at the very least, an inspection.
Uneven or Sunken Floors
Uneven or sunken parts of your floors are typically a sign of weakness in your subflooring. Sometimes, this is caused by rot. If not addressed in a timely fashion, the rot can spread and affect your entire floor. In some cases, the entire subfloor will have to be replaced. However, if quickly identified, it may just require repair and/or replacement of a few parts of your subfloor.
Loud Squeaks or Musty Smells
Loud squeaking floors are not natural. The squeaks indicate that the nails connecting the subfloors to the joists are loose. When you walk across your floor, loose nails move in and out of joists, thus causing the sound. If the squeaking is prevalent in the entire room, it may be a sign that the material has experienced warping.
Additionally, if you have noticed a musty smell of mold or mildew in a room of your home, it could be a sign that your floors have been water damaged. Finding the location of the damage can be difficult without the assistance of certified flooring repair contractors in Seattle.
Cracked Tile Flooring
Tile is not a flexible material. It requires strong subflooring to prevent it from breaking and cracking. If cracks in your tile begin to appear, the likely culprit is a weak subfloor. It could be a small area or the entire floor.
Hardwood is Cupping
Cupped hardwood may be a sign that the humidity in your home is too high, or your subfloor is suffering from water damage. Fortunately, experienced flooring repair contractors in Seattle may be able to offer services that reverse cupping – if you take action on it early enough.
Leaky Ceiling
Leaking ceiling stemming from the second (or higher floor) is likely a sign that there is a leak in your home somewhere. Flooring absorbs a lot of water and can be damaged over time. If you are able to catch the problem soon enough, there is a chance that you can avoid a full replacement.
How do You Repair a Floor?
Your floors get a lot of use and are subject to damage. Surface scratches and gouges will eventually happen, no matter how careful you are. In some cases, it may be an easy DIY project to fix. However, issues like the ones mentioned above will typically require the expertise of flooring repair contractors in Seattle. Learn more about repairing hardwood and laminate flooring below.
Tips For Repairing a Hardwood Floor
Contrary to the name, hardwood floors are quite soft in comparison to other materials such as laminate. This means that they are more vulnerable to damage and will require more maintenance efforts than other materials. Maintenance and repair costs will typically depend on the overall condition of your floor, age, and whether or not it has suffered severe damage. Learn more about common hardwood floor repairs below.
How to Repair Squeaking Floors
Wood naturally expands and contracts, this can cause the nails attached to hardwood floors to loosen, thus causing the squeaky sounds. When you first notice the sound of squeaks, go under your floor (in a crawlspace) and have someone walk on top of it. When you have identified the location of the squeaks, check for loose nails or areas that don’t have enough nails. Replace them with new ones.
Another easy fix is to drive wedges between the subfloor and floor joists to eliminate the excess space. Repairs beyond these may require a flooring repair contractor.
How to Repair Water Damaged Hardwood Floors
Before you begin repairs of your hardwood floors, it may be in your best interest to contact a plumber to ensure that you are not dealing with a leak. If the water damage was due to high humidity or a small leak, you may be able to simply sand down the hardwood floor and refinish it.
Additionally, if the damage is limited to a few small spots, you can simply replace a few planks within your flooring. It can be difficult to find an exact match for your current floor though. Repairing water damaged floors on your own is sometimes possible, but it is usually not an easy task.
How to Repair Scratches
Scratches are the most prevalent type of damage that hardwood floors must endure. Fortunately, they are usually the easiest to repair. In most cases, scratches can be buffed out with the use of steel wool or hand-sanding paper and then restained. It is important to restrict sanding to the affected areas and stay in line with the grain of the wood.
Tips For Repairing Laminate Flooring
Laminate floors are more versatile and cost-effective than hardwood floors. If there is an issue with one or more sections, you can simply have the damaged pieces replaced. If the damage goes beyond the surface of your flooring, repair efforts will require much more work. Steps to repair and replace laminate flooring include:
- Removal of baseboards
- Remove laminate planks until you have reached the damaged pieces
- Replace damaged planks with new ones
- Re-install the non-damaged planks
- Replace the molding or baseboards if necessary
How Much Does it Cost to Repair Laminate Flooring?
Costs to repair laminate flooring and costs to repair subflooring are different. In general, you can expect to pay for the materials and the hourly rate of flooring repair contractors in Seatle. The overall cost of your laminate flooring repair project will depend on the extent of damage, type of laminate flooring, and how much area the damage covers.
While you can undertake repair efforts on your own, this may lead to more expensive repairs if mistakes are made. Thus, DIY flooring repair is only recommended for those that have some knowledge of flooring and can comfortably and safely undertake the project. If you are strapped for time or do not feel comfortable making the repairs yourself, contact Home Care Contractors to request your free quote today.
Get in Touch With Flooring Repair Contractors in Seattle
Your floors are among the most heavily used and relied upon fixtures in your home. Damaged flooring can be uncomfortable, dangerous, and expensive if left unchecked. Repairing and replacing laminate or hardwood floors is not as easy as it seems. It will often require extensive knowledge, specialized tools, and years of training.
Many homeowners that attempt to make repairs on their own are soon confronted with the reality that what initially seemed like a small project, is much more involved than they imagined. This is especially true when water damage or mold is uncovered. Fortunately, you do not have to handle repairs on your own. At Home Care Contractors, we are highly skilled and prepared to tackle all of your flooring repair needs.
Give us a call or fill out our easy online form to request your free quote today.